News

Hunter Local Land Services (LLS) is encouraging postgraduate students with a strong commitment to natural resource management (NRM) and agriculture to apply for the 2016 Hunter Regional Landcare Scholarship. The Hunter Regional Landcare Scholarship, worth $3000, supports student research that contributes to future environmental and natural resource outcomes. ‘The scholarship exists to support students conducting valuable research that both aligns with Landcare principles and provides community, environmental and agricultural benefits,’ Hunter LLS Regional Landcare Facilitator Nev Reis said. It is a key goal of Hunter Local Land Services Strategic Plan to close knowledge gaps across the region through research that discovers new and better approaches to NRM and agriculture. This is the third year Hunter LLS has offered the scholarship, which is part of the Regional Landcare Facilitator (RLF) program, an initiative of the Australian Government. The scholarship is administered by The Tom Farrell Institute for the Environment, Faculty of Science and Information Technology at the University of Newcastle. Director of The Tom Farrell Institute for the Environment, Professor Tim Roberts, said: ‘This is a tremendous scholarship program which makes a significant contribution to a student’s research project and the environment’. ‘The Tom Farrell Institute is proud to be administering this worthwhile scholarship program which helps students achieve their goals,’ Prof. Roberts said. University of Newcastle student, Tegan Hopwood from Mayfield, used her 2015 scholarship to conduct research project, ‘Impacts of surrounding land uses on microbial water quality within the Campvale Canal inlet to Grahamstown Dam’. Grahamstown Dam is the Hunter’s largest drinking water supply dam. ‘The Landcare scholarship has been incredibly valuable to support me through my financial struggles while at University. It was a great confidence boost that drove me to complete my research’, Tegan said. Since receiving the scholarship, Tegan’s research has been recognised by Water Research Australia, who supported her attendance at the internationally reknown, Young Water Professionals Conference in Sydney last week. Two scholarships will be offered in 2016. Applications close on Monday 2 May 2016. For more details and an information pack visit www.hunter.lls.nsw.gov.au